LEGISLATORS RALLY AROUND WSU CAMPUSES;
TRI-CITIES COMPROMISE IN WORKS
Displaying the kind of solidarity that has typified legislators from WSU campus communities in recent years, Republican lawmakers who represent Pullman`s 9th Legislative District rallied to assist WSU Tri-Cities this week.
Meanwhile, House Democrats led by Rep. Helen Sommers, D-Seattle, (and backed by Democrats from the branch campus communities) continue to reject any Senate or House GOP proposals for unwanted base budget reductions at any of the campuses, including WSU Pullman. Sen. Al Bauer, D-Vancouver; Sen. Lisa Brown, D-Spokane; Sen. Pat Hale, R-Richland, and Sen. Larry Sheahan, R-Rosalia, have worked hard to moderate the Senate approach to enrollment funding. All of that support from many different directions could pay off as House Democrats try to reach an agreement on a compromise budget today with House Republicans. Once that agreement is reached, the House must negotiate a final budget with the Senate.
State Rep. Don Cox, R-Colfax and Rep. Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, met with House Appropriations Co-chair Tom Huff, R-Gig Harbor, to discuss improvements to the House Republican budget. House Republicans initially endorsed a crippling $1.4 million cut to the WSU Tri-Cities budget. As a result of that meeting and efforts by the Tri-City legislative delegation, there are reliable reports that Huff will not seek serious cuts to WSU Tri-Cities as he negotiates over a proposed bipartisan House budget. House Higher Education Committee Co-chair Don Carlson, R-Vancouver, who had been an outspoken advocate for cuts to WSU Tri-Cities is now supporting a proposal that would adjust the enrollment target without reducing the funding base. Rep. Shirley Hankins, R-Richland, has threatened to run floor amendments challenging any cut to WSU Tri-Cities in the final budget.
House Democratic Caucus Chairman Bill Grant, D-Walla Walla, whose district includes the Tri-Cities, picked up active support from colleagues at other campuses such as Speaker Pro Tempore Val Ogden, D-Vancouver. Also outspoken against Tri-City cuts has been House Higher Education Co-chair Phyllis Kenney, D-Seattle, and Rep. Pat Lantz, D-Tacoma. House Democrats repeatedly reported that their caucus would not tolerate cuts to campus base budgets.
Funding for the WSU Tri-Cities branch campus in Richland has particularly been a topic of budget discussions as legislative negotiators work through the final hours of a scheduled 60-day legislative session. At this writing, it looks like the two houses are moving closer to an appropriate solution for Tri-Cities.
But, because of many larger issues unresolved, it is anticipated the governor will need to call a special session of the Legislature to complete work on the supplemental operating budget.
The WSU Tri-Cities campus has 596 graduate and undergraduate students, serving a region that is beginning to rebound from the loss of nearly 10,000 Hanford jobs over the past three years. WSU has argued this session that WSU Tri-Cities` $5.1 million budget is appropriate for the 596 students it serves, equaling the average per student costs at WSU Vancouver, UW Bothell, and UW Tacoma. However, WSU Tri-Cities is 158 students below the state`s official enrollment target. That causes some legislators to consider cuts to the campus in the supplemental budget. The proposed Senate budget would require $775,000 of the $5.1 million to be returned to the state next year.
LEGISLATORS EARMARK $450,000
FOR SPOKANE HEALTH SCIENCES FUNDING.
A proposal for establishing a WSU Cancer Prevention Research Center at the Spokane Riverpoint Campus has now garnered bi-partisan support in both houses of the Legislature. A week ago, the budget proposal appeared to be in serious trouble despite a recommendation of $600,000 in funding from Gov. Gary Locke and House Republicans.
The recommendations match a $425,000 funding commitment to the Spokane Intercollegiate Research and Technology Institute that is contained in all legislative budget versions.
Senate and House Democrats favored no funding for the WSU piece in their initial budgets. After numerous conversations with Rep. Jeff Gombosky, D-Spokane, House Appropriations Co-chair Helen Sommers, D-Seattle, indicated she would agree to a $450,000 funding level in the House Democratic budget. House Co-speaker Frank Chopp, D-Seattle, assured WSU he would press for the money in discussions with the Senate.
On the Senate side, significant changes were made in committee before seven Republicans joined in pushing Senate Ways and Means Chair`s Valoria Loveland`s supplemental operating budget through the state Senate Sunday night on a 32-16 vote. A $450,000 Spokane Health Sciences amendment prepared in the Ways and Means Committee by Senate Minority Leader Jim West, R-Spokane, was unexpectedly approved with bi-partisan support on Sunday afternoon. After West spoke at some length for the amendment, Sen. Lisa Brown, D-Spokane, jumped in and moved the West amendment. It was adopted on a voice vote in committee and now is contained in the Senate budget.
It now seems very likely that $450,000 for the Health Sciences Initiative will be provided in the final legislative budget. Also playing a key role in making that happen were Sen. Valoria Loveland, D-Pasco, and Sen. Larry Sheahan, R-Rosalia.
Many individuals and groups, including Regent Ken Alhadeff , SIRTI Board President Mike Nowling, the Greater Spokane Chamber of Commerce, and Spokane hospitals helped in moving legislators to a favorable position.
This update is shared by fax and electronic mail to friends of Washington State University as state government developments occur regarding the 2000 Legislative Session. Contact Karen Fischer, 509/335-6665 to receive a copy. Call Larry Ganders at 360/956-2165 or send him a short pager message via e-mail to 3607863527@page.metrocall.com. From WSU Campuses, Dial 8-2165. e-mail: Ganders@energy.wsu.edu. Call Jane Yung in Olympia at 360/956-2164 or page her at 360-956-8500. For bill status and other info, visit our web page at www.olympia.wsu.edu.
